Dundee Preview – Can Dundee use this cup game to bounce back from humiliating derby defeat?

It will have been a long eight days for James McPake and his players since losing 6-2 to arch rivals Dundee United in the league last Friday. Having gone into the game unbeaten there was plenty of confidence from the dark blue half of the city that they could get a result at Tannadice. Despite losing an early goal, Dundee responded well and were the better team either side of their equalizer before they essentially collapsed. That will be the biggest concern for McPake rather than the defeat himself. Having suffered relegation last season it’s always a challenge to change that mentality in such a short space of time. Losing so heavily and in the manner they did is not going to help with that. It will be interesting to see how they come back from that in a game where the pressure is all on them.

With the Challenge Cup being a competition for the non-Premiership teams, this is the first Dundee are competing in it for six years. Whilst promotion back to the top-flight is the obvious priority, any cup run is welcome and McPake will be hoping they can get by this first hurdle. The manager was clearly disappointed with exiting the League Cup at the first knockout phase and will see this as another good opportunity.

Elgin City Preview – Are Elgin good enough to surprise Championship outfit and progress to next round?

Unlike their opponents in this third round tie, Elgin have already played a couple of games in this year’s Challenge Cup. Their ties so far have been plenty entertaining with a total of 16 goals scored between them. The younger teams from the Premiership clubs – known as Colts – contest this competition and Elgin eventually got the better of the young Hibs team, winning 4-3 in the first round. Their next tie – another away tie – against fellow League Two club Brechin was even more dramatic, winning 5-4 in the end. This represents another step up in class and their third away game in a row in the Challenge Cup.

It’s been a slightly frustrating start to the league season for Gavin Price and his squad. Five games in and Elgin have managed just one victory but have only lost once, too. Three draws in their last four games see them on six points and in seventh spot. It looks like being another tightly contested race for the promotion playoffs which is ultimately Elgin’s aim. Like Dundee, though, they will be really keen to progress in this competition as well. The last time they went beyond the third round was way back in 2015.

Key-Facts – Dundee v Elgin City

Dundee come into this on the back of a humbling 6-2 defeat in the derby and will be looking to bounce back immediately

Elgin have been involved in two very high-scoring games to get to this stage, winning their ties 4-3 and 5-4

Dundee have yet to lose a game at home in 90 minutes this season

Dundee v Elgin City Betting Advice

There’s no doubt that losing 6-2 last week would have stung Dundee and they will be desperate to avoid any further setbacks in a tie they should come through. Elgin will be hoping to play on any nerves from their hosts and have shown in this competition that they can certainly score goals with nine in two games. One thing that should be to Dundee’s advantage is returning to Dens Park. They have not been beaten in 90 minutes in any of their five home games this season. And they are usually very hard to breakdown having conceded just one goal in regulation time – that came against Aberdeen in the League Cup, a tie they eventually lost in extra-time.

It may not be as straightforward as they would hope for but I expect Dundee to prevail here and book their place in the next round. Elgin have shown they are prone to open games in this and with Dundee’s defensive vulnerabilities there for all to see last week, the home team to win with both teams scoring is the selection.

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